29 CFR 1910 · General Industry · Subpart R

1910.266(i): Logging Employee Training

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of October 15, 2026 Data updated October 22, 2026 6 min read

In plain words:

Logging employers must train each employee, including supervisors, at no cost: initially, before first assignment, when given new tasks, tools, equipment, machines or vehicles, and when unsafe job performance is shown. Training must cover safe work tasks, safe use of tools and machines with manufacturer instructions, hazard recognition and control, worksite procedures and the standard's requirements.

Key takeaways

  • 1910.266(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
  • OSHA cited it 80 times in the last 3 years, in 54 inspections, with $109,001 in current penalties.
  • 13 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
  • Most citations: NC (14), VA (10), KY (7).
  • Related part: 1910.266(i)(7) First-aid training (41 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
80citations, 3 years
$109,001current penalties
54inspections
13linked deaths
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Injuries linked to this rule
  4. Where and how often it was cited
  5. Free toolbox talk
  6. OSHA interpretation letters
  7. Related parts of this rule
  8. Get your crew competent
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1910.266(i) ("Training") is one requirement inside 1910.266 Logging operations, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 29 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.

Official text

(i) Training. 80 citations

(1) The employer shall provide training for each employee, including supervisors, at no cost to the employee. Open (i)(1) 7 citations

(2) Frequency. Training shall be provided as follows:

(i) As soon as possible but not later than the effective date of this section for initial training for each current and new employee;

(ii) Prior to initial assignment for each new employee;

(iii) Whenever the employee is assigned new work tasks, tools, equipment, machines or vehicles; and

(iv) Whenever an employee demonstrates unsafe job performance.

(3) Content. At a minimum, training shall consist of the following elements: Open (i)(3) 11 citations

(i) Safe performance of assigned work tasks;

(ii) Safe use, operation and maintenance of tools, machines and vehicles the employee uses or operates, including emphasis on understanding and following the manufacturer's operating and maintenance instructions, warnings and precautions; Open (i)(3)(ii) 1 citations

(iii) Recognition of safety and health hazards associated with the employee's specific work tasks, including the use of measures and work practices to prevent or control those hazards; Open (i)(3)(iii) 6 citations

(iv) Recognition, prevention and control of other safety and health hazards in the logging industry;

(v) Procedures, practices and requirements of the employer's work site; and

(vi) The requirements of this standard. Open (i)(3)(vi) 1 citations

(4) Training of an employee due to unsafe job performance, or assignment of new work tasks, tools, equipment, machines, or vehicles; may be limited to those elements in paragraph (i)(3) of this section which are relevant to the circumstances giving rise to the need for training.

(5) Portability of training. 1 citations

(i) Each current employee who has received training in the particular elements specified in paragraph (i)(3) of this section shall not be required to be retrained in those elements.

(ii) Each new employee who has received training in the particular elements specified in paragraph (i)(3) of this section shall not be required to be retrained in those elements prior to initial assignment.

(iii) The employer shall train each current and new employee in those elements for which the employee has not received training.

(iv) The employer is responsible for ensuring that each current and new employee can properly and safely perform the work tasks and operate the tools, equipment, machines, and vehicles used in their job. 1 citations

(6) Each new employee and each employee who is required to be trained as specified in paragraph (i)(2) of this section, shall work under the close supervision of a designated person until the employee demonstrates to the employer the ability to safely perform their new duties independently. 1 citations

(7) First-aid training. Open (i)(7) 41 citations

(i) The employer shall assure that each employee, including supervisors, receives or has received first-aid and CPR training meeting at least the requirements specified in appendix B. Open (i)(7)(i) 34 citations

(ii) The employer shall assure that each employee's first-aid and CPR training and/or certificate of training remain current. Open (i)(7)(ii) 7 citations

(8) All training shall be conducted by a designated person.

(9) The employer shall assure that all training required by this section is presented in a manner that the employee is able to understand. The employer shall assure that all training materials used are appropriate in content and vocabulary to the educational level, literacy, and language skills of the employees being trained.

(10) Certification of training. Open (i)(10) 14 citations

(i) The employer shall verify compliance with paragraph (i) of this section by preparing a written certification record. The written certification record shall contain the name or other identity of the employee trained, the date(s) of the training, and the signature of the person who conducted the training or the signature of the employer. If the employer relies on training conducted prior to the employee's hiring or completed prior to the effective date of this section, the certification record shall indicate the date the employer determined the prior training was adequate. Open (i)(10)(i) 11 citations

(ii) The most recent training certification shall be maintained. 1 citations

(11) Safety and health meetings. The employer shall hold safety and health meetings as necessary and at least each month for each employee. Safety and health meetings may be conducted individually, in crew meetings, in larger groups, or as part of other staff meetings. Open (i)(11) 4 citations

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.266.

Injuries linked to this rule

13 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.266(i).

Employee is fatally injured when driving truck that overturn
2025-02-10 · Fatal · PIEDMONT, AL

At 4:15 p.m. on February 10, 2025, Employee #1 was working for a logging companyoperating a semi-truck attached to a trailer. The trailer was loaded with logs descending downhill when Employee #1 reportedly lost control causing the truck to flip over. The cab of the…

See all 13 cases

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Where and how often it was cited

YearCitations
202311
202428
202528
202613

Top states: NC (14), VA (10), KY (7), WV (7), NY (5)

Largest penalties

EmployerLocationPenalty for this rule
SOUTHERN TREE PROFESSIONALS, LLCCONYERS, GA$13,902
ELDORA ENTERPRISES, LLCNEDERLAND, CO$10,000
FOUR SEASONS TREE SERVICE, LLCEUFAULA, OK$9,930
SMOLA TRANSIT, LLCMEDFORD, WI$9,032
106505 - ENBERG LOGGING LLCLITTLE FALLS, MN$6,600

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OSHA interpretation letters

Related parts of this rule

Get your crew competent

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Frequently asked questions

Who pays for logging training?

The employer must provide training at no cost to the employee.

When must logging training be given?

Initially, before initial assignment for new employees, when assigned new tasks, tools, equipment, machines or vehicles, and when an employee shows unsafe job performance.

Can retraining be limited?

Yes. Training for unsafe performance or new assignments may be limited to the elements relevant to the situation.

About this page

Sources

3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.

Written and reviewed by

Black Belt Safety Editorial Team

Site Safety Officer and Safety Professional

OSHA 30 · CPR · USACE CQM

Written and reviewed by the Black Belt Safety team. Every post is checked against the OSHA standard or agency source it cites.

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